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This paper describes the development of a Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) system with a very small impact on the environment. The system based on adsorption cooling is powered by the waste heat recovered from the engine coolant. The advantages of such a system are: a drastic reduction of the fuel overconsumption and the CO2 emission associated to the MAC usage, and the use of water as the refrigerant, which is a no Global Warming Potential (GWP) fluid [1] compliant with the new EU regulation and naturally available. In addition the system being based on thermal compression and not on mechanical compression, is decoupled from the engine operation and has no impact on the vehicle handling. Finally, coupled with a small fuel burner or with a solar panel it can provide air conditioning when the vehicle engine is stop. Thus the system can provide the cabin preconditioning and allows the cabin cooling for those vehicles which are also used for rest or sleeping (truck, camper).

This paper describes the development of an electrical compressor-driven air conditioning system for automotive applications. The system uses the thermal properties of reversible metal hydride alloys, which are retained within advanced-design hydride heat exchangers. Calculations on system performance predict high energy efficiency in a package of competitive size and cost. A proof-of-principle prototype has been constructed and bench tested. Measurements from initial tests confirm the excellent performance potential of this system. A study about on-board integration concludes that the system can be installed on a car and can provide all HVAC traditional functions.